Wear accessory



Nov. 16, 1948. P. MARX ErAL I 7 3 WEAR ACCESSORY 7 Filed May 23, 1946 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 INVENTORS 1/2 /4 1/9 103 v //5 PAUL MARX ART/E. ABRAHAM 4916.5.

A TTQBIVEY P. MARX ETAL.

' WEAR ACCESSORY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed ma 25, 1946 u m F Fla. /2.

32 FIGS.

25 F's 3a 26 -|**& 37

FIG. 5.

INVENTORS PAUL MARX AR TIE ABRAHAM Wmsma A r TORNEV Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNHTED STATES ATENT OFFICE I 10 Claims.

The invention relates to a wear accessory, and more in particular, to a pin clip attachable to a garment for a variety of uses; Although, in one of its forms, primarily intended to serve as a collar holder to keep the edges of a shirt collar in desirable shape and to prevent the collar points from bending, the invention aims in general to provide a pin clip which is substantially secure against accidental loosening, which has stiffening qualities, and in which the pin point or points are covered to minimize the danger of injuring the wearer. Another object of the invention is to provide a pin clip which will not tilt or turn but will stay fiat, that means substantially parallel to the plane of the garment to which it is attached, and which thus is also advantageously useful as a bar for medal ribbons or as an insigne of a uniform, and in a decorated or ornamented form, as a brooch or costume jewelry, or as a pin or clip for many other purposes.

If used as a collar stiffener or holder the device according to the invention comprises two elongated pin clips, one to be attached to each collar edge, the two pin clips being connected by a relatively short flexible member at points intermediate their ends to limit the space the two 001- lar edges can spread apart. In its preferred form, the individual clip comprises an elongated casing with a lower wall shorter than the upper wall and with prongs therebetween and extending beyond the lower wall at the opposite ends of the casing, at least one of the prongs being retractable against the restraint of a spring.

Further objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawing illustrating embodiments thereof by way of example.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a front elevation of an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the pin clips shown in Fig. 2, at a larger scale,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section along line 'l4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5-5 in Fig. 4,

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are sections along the lines 66, 1-4, and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified clip,

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view thereof, the bottom part of the casing being removed,

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-section of a portion of the clip of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 12 is a cross-section along line |2--l2 of Fig. 11.

Referring now tothe drawing, Fig. 1 shows our invention in use as a collar stifiener and holder. The device comprises two elongated members of substantially rigid character, which are connected by a flexible element 2. The members may be shaped similar to a safety pin, that means with a pin or pricking portion 3, a resilient bend 4, a back 5 and a hook or catch 6. Intermediate their ends, the backs 5 are provided each with a means, for instance a loop I, to which the ends of the flexible element 2, shown as a little chain, are fastened. When the pins are attached, preferably to the inside of and substantially parallel to the edges 8 of a collar 9, their rigidity will lend the desired stiffness to the edges and the chain or other flexible element will prevent the edges from spreading unduly apart. If this element is positioned underneath the tie II], the entire device will be concealed, and the element 2 may even push the tie somewhat outward for a very neat appearance.

The very simple form of the described collar stiffener and holder according to our invention is improved in the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8. Whereas the members I can tilt about their pin portions, means are provided in the embodiment which will now be described to insure that the pin clip or clips stay fiat when attached. By other means it is also attained that the bend of the upper rim of the collar where it is turned down, is supported for a correct and lasting fit. The embodiment of Fig. 2 consists, as in the first described form, of two pin clip members'connected by a flexible element. Each pin clip comprises a casing in general denoted by H and shaped of a lower and an upper elongated member 12 and I3 respectively as clearly shown in Figs. 3 to 8. The lower member i2 is so bent or otherwise formed, preferably of sheet metal, that it constitutes a fiat bottom wall 14 and two upright side walls I5, I6 with inward directed flanges I1 and i8, respectively. The upper member [3 is a substantially flat strip of sheet metal fitting between the side walls l5, l6 and under the flanges l1, [8. It may be stiffened by being pressed, for instance in roof-like shape as shown at LG, over its total length or part thereof. Although we have mentioned metal as the preferred material for the casing, other materials, such as a plastic, may be used if so desired. The upper member is longer than the lower member and projects a distance from both ends of the latter at 20 and 2|. Depending on the purpose for which the clip is intended, one or both ends of the upper member may be provided with an extension. In the illustrated embodiment such extension 22 of the end 2I is bent back at an angle to the casing and provided with a button 23 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. If there is no such extension, button 23 may be directly secured to another portion of the upper member I3, for instance to or near the end portion 2|. In several places, pairs of incisions 24 are made in the side edges of the upper member and the material between the incisions i's 'bentdownward 'to form spacers, abutments and/or guides 25, 26, 21, 28, and 29. All these portions 25 to 29 are so long that they bear on the lower wall I4 as clearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby insuring that member I3 bears against the lower sides of the flanges II, I8. A U-shaped two-pronged pin 30, preferably of resilient material is so positioned inca'sing II that the prongs 3| and 32 are held, the one between side wall I and abutment 28, and'the other one between sidewall I6 and abutment 29. pointe ends 33 and 34 or the prongs are slight-1y bent downward and project from the wwereasirrgmember I2 but are covered or overrep-pee b'y the 'upper 'member portion II. The pliitibh 356f the pin, connecting the two prongs, 'issecii d to the upper casing member l3 'for sbld'ring "oriifelding as indicated at 00'. Asurrrla'r two-pron'ge'd'pin 31 is arranged at he opposite end-of the casing. This pin is mov- V E by the sidewalls I5, or the latter fiaim the butm m orguide portions and 2e. T'h'e'iniddle portion38 of the-pin isprovided with an upward projection which may be Welded otherwise secured thereto and protrudes th :ghf'a slot '40 i'nthe upper casing member I3. Slot 4e 'is'so dimensioned'that its one end, i.'e. 'ti 'iesle ft -handendin F'ig. 3 constitutes an abut- 'fiieiitfo'r projection 3'9"so asto limit'an outward movement of the pin 31 to a position analogous tbjti'iatbf thefi'xed pin 30, that means a position h'the'prongends are still but very slightly direaijp'edbythe end 20 of the upper casing inenibe'r I3. :A'spring is'provided, tending to urge thepi'nf3l in to such position. In order to make casing II "as flata's possible, a zig-zag spring 41 is used 'in the illustrated embodiment and so arranged that it bears with its one end against t e-p rtion '38of pin -31 and with its'oth'er end against the abutment -'21.

Owing to the described structure, the parts'can be"readily assembled byfirst securing 'pin 30 to the r'n e'mber I3, "then, while the latter is held upside'down, positioning'the pin 31 and spring I,

II in correct relationship thereto, and finally sliding'the lower member I2 on the upper memb'rfI'3 from 'the'one 'end'thereof. In order to apply the clip, it is gripped between thumb and index finger of'one hand, engaging the button 23 and projection 39 and thereby retracting pin 31. H The prong ends'33 and 34' of the fixed pin are first 'insertedin the fabric to which the clip is to be attached; then theother end of the clip is'brought down on that fabric. When, now the' p'rojection 39 is released, the slightly downward directed points of pin 31' will also enter into the fabric while the pin is projected by spring'fl It will be clear that the clip so aflixed is'practically secure against accidental loosening, andthat the casing acts as a stifiener of the fabric-material gripped between the piris. Furthermore,owing to'the overlap-of the upper casing member and owing tothe fact'that thepin points do 'not proje'ct outwards of the jabric, injuries bythese points are practically excluded.

hle the longitudinal direction of the casing buttons 23.

"collar in a similar arrangement to that stated Although we have shown twin-pronged pins in the illustrated embodiment, single-pronged pins may be used with results similar to those mentioned. However, the double-pronged pins offer the further advantage that the clip will not tilt about its longitudinal axis as it may do in the case of single-pronged pins.

In the form of the collar stiffener and holder of Fig. 2, the two clips, in general denoted by Hand 43, are connected bythe chain or other flexible member which attached to the clip The clips may be attached to a will, then, also be in a suitable position to pre- 'vent the edges 8 0f the collar 9 from spreading beyond a fitting distance. If it is desired, to

wear the clips with an open shirt, the chain 44 may be removed,'the clips, then, preventing the collar points from bending upward.

-Similarly,a single 'clip of the form of Fig. 3 maybe use'd for'other purposes, in which event some other article, as for instance a watch or a pince-nez may be suspended from the hook shaped extension 23. If, on the-other hand, the pin clip is used for still other purposes, as mentioned 'above, the extension may be omitted. 'A clip without extension is illustrated in Figs. 9 to '12, which show also certain modificationsin other respects.

The modified clip comprises a lower casing member I02 similar to that denoted by I2 in Fig. '3. The upper casing member I03 is a straightstrip bent into roof-shape I04 throughoutitsle'ngth. Its'ends I05 and I06 project from the lower member so as'to overlap the pronged pins I01 and I08 which are positioned'at opposite -ends in the casing formed by the members T02 and I03. Whereas, however, in the first embodiment only the pin "31 is shiftable, both the pins I01 and I08 ma be retracted by hand and projected by resilient means. Furthermore, whereas there is a projection 39 directly secured'to pin'3'l 'as a means for retracting it, 'aslide I09 'shiftable within the c'a'singis pro- Vided with a projection III) which is passed through a-slbt m in'the casing wall, be it in -thes'ide'wall of the-lower member or, as shown, in the-top of the upper member I03. This projection may either be an integral portion of the slide or'may be apiece secured to the slide as e. *gas mall screwshown in Fig. 11. Pin 'IO'Tis secured tothe'slide forinstance by Welding or soldering-as indicated at Hz and 'a spring 3 which may have any suitable form'bea'rsagainst the other side of the slide. For the reasons stated hereinbeifore, a spring of 'zig-zag shape is"pref erred in the clip accordingto the invention. The slide I09 "is, furthermore, provided with an extension H4 located between the upper member I 03 and spring H3. The extension is of such fa form and lengththat 'it'overlapsthe slot III fro'm'thein'side of the casing to conceal thespring when the clip is used. Pin "I08 is secure'dto a slide 'I'I5jof a '"shape similarto that of the slide I09. 'The "projection IIG of slide H5 is passed through another slot 'I'ITof the casin'g,so that 'the pincanbe'retracted from its adjacent casing end agai'rist'the restraintof aresilient means bearing onth'e'slide II5. Such resilient means may be separate from thefs'pring actin'gbn pin I01. However Wis preferred to provide only one spring H3 interpositioned between both the slides I09 and I I5 as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Although this is not necessary as far as the action of the spring is concerned, fabutments H8 and H9 may be provided on the upper casing member to hold the middle portion fof the spring in position. In all other respects, the clip of Fig. 9 is similar to that of Fig. 3, and it will be clear that features described with respect to the one clip may be applied to the other and vice versa.

I It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations and modifications of the illustrated embodiments are possible without departure from the spirit and essence of our invention which, for this reason, shall not be lim ited but by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A clip comprising an elongated, open-ended casing having a lower and an upper wall portion, the upper wall portion protruding beyond the lower at both ends of the casing, two pins located partly in the interior of the opposite casing ends, respectively, and projecting therefrom with their points so that the points are free from said lower wall but overlapped by the upper, at least one o said pins being lengthwise shiftable, a spring interiorly of the casing andbiasing said shiftable pin, means accessible from the outside and connected to said shiftable pin to retract the latter against the restraint of said spring, and an abutment to prevent projection of said pin beyond a predetermined limit.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1, the points of said pins being slightly turned downward approximately to the level of the bottom surface of the lower casing wall.

3. A clip as claimed in claim 1, each of said pins having a plurality of prongs in a plane sub stantially parallel to the lower surface of said casing.

4. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said pins is rigidly secured to said casing, the pointed end of said pin projecting from the end of the lower casing wall a distance similar to that the shiftable pin projects from the opposite end of the lower casing wall when stopped b said abutment.

5. A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein both said pins are shiftable, said spring being arranged between said pins so as to urge the latter in opposite directions.

6. A clip as claimed in claim 1, the upper wall portion including an extension at one of its ends, said extension being bent back at an angle upon said casing, and embodying means for the attachment of an extraneous element.

'7. A pin clip device as a collar stifiener or the like comprising a pair of clips, each clip comprising an elongated open-ended casing having a lower and an upper wall portion, the upper wall portion protruding beyond the lower at both ends of said casing, two pins located partly in the interior of the opposite casing ends, respectively, and projecting therefrom with their points which are overlapped by the ends of said upper wall portion, one of said pins being lengthwise shiftable, a spring interiorly of said casing and bearing against said shiftable pin, means accessible from the outside and connected to said pin to retract the latter against the restraint of said spring, an abutment to prevent projection of said pin beyond a predetermined limit, said other pin being rigidly connected to said casing, the upper wall portion including an extension at its end adjacent said rigidly secured pin, said extension being bent back at an angle upon said casing, and a flexible member connecting the free ends of the extensions of both said clips.

8. A clip comprising an elongated, substantially flat and open-ended casing having a lower and an upper wall, the upper wall protruding beyond the lower at both ends of thecasing, two twopronged pins located partly in the interior of the opposite casing ends, respectively, and projecting therefrom with their points so that the latter are free from said lower wall but permanently overlapped by the upper wall, at least one of said pins being lengthwise shiftable, a fiat zig-zag spring interiorly of said casing and tending to project said pin, means accessible from the outside and movable with said shiftable pin to retract the latter against the restraint of said spring, and an abutment to prevent projection of said shiftable pin beyond a predetermined limit.

9. A clip as claimed in claim 8, said casing comprising a lower member embodying said lower wall, and an upper member embodying said upper wall, said lower member having a substantially U-shaped cross-section with inwardly bent flange portions, said upper member having side edges engaging with their upper faces said inwardly bent flange portions of said lower memher and having downwardly bent portions located between the prongs of each pin and constituting spacers to insure clearance between said members for the reception of said pins and said spring.

10. A clip as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a slide interiorly of said casing between said shiftable pin and said spring, said shiftable pin being rigidly secured to said slide, said spring bearing against said slide, a projection of said slide protruding outward through a longitudinal slot of a wall portion of said casing, and an extension of said slide overlapping said slot on the inside of the casing when the slide is in a position in which said shiftable pin is projected.

PAUL MARX. ARTIE ABRAHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 325,117 Schroder Aug. 25, 1885 1,492,403 Slater Apr. 29, 1924 2,053,559 Holmgren Sept. 8, 1936 2,140,795 Ferguson Dec. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 392,095 France Nov. 17, 1908 

